-Outlook Jaipur: Describing the proposed Direct Cash Transfer scheme a 'pure magic' that brings a big responsibility on banks for its implementation, Finance Minister P Chidambaram today asked bankers to work with the government to make the scheme a success. "Through this unique benefit transfer scheme, money when it is released, will instantaneously be credited in the bank account of the beneficiary, leaving no scope for corruption and pilferage. That is why...

-The Hindu How gender sensitive are the government’s flagship programmes, probes a report to be released today Why is the concept of ‘citizen’ always a male? Why is the formulation of government policies always male centric leaving out the female counterpart that actually constitutes half the population and contributes in equal measure to the economy? Perhaps keeping this in mind, UN Women and economists have come up with a report on eight flagship...

-The Indian Express In a major course correction, the 153 amendments that Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh is likely to introduce to the Land Acquisition Bill in Lok Sabha on Tuesday includes a watered-down retrospective clause. The cabinet, which met last Thursday, had established the sanctity of awards declared for ongoing land acquisition processes under the existing Land Acquisition Act, 1894 across the country. This was a rejection of Jairam’s proposal to...

-The Hindu Adding fuel to fire, people haven’t received subsidy Kotkasim (Rajasthan): Mahipal Singh Yadav (31) is a contractual junior manager at the Kotkasim Gram Sewa Sahakari Samiti. Joining the cooperative, he had hoped, would be like any other job. However, since the direct cash transfer of kerosene subsidies scheme was piloted here, Mr. Yadav has found himself at the receiving end of people’s anger. The KGSSS operates five fair price shops (FPS) in...

-The Hindu Chennai: Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said the cash transfer scheme, aiming at crediting subsidy amount directly to the bank accounts of beneficiaries, would be fully implemented throughout the country by December 2013. “Beneficiaries of 39 schemes will get their money transferred to their bank accounts directly,” Mr. Chidambaram said, while participating in the centenary celebrations of former Assembly Speaker S. Chellapandian on Sunday. He said the “your-money-in-your-hands” scheme would...